Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-06
&eadiua.
A LETTER ON FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

iShed at Columbia, deprecated the efforts
of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, fearing that it would lead to the
agitation of the female suffrage question
in this State. This brought forth letter
from Mrs S. f. Chaplin, of Greenville, an
active member Of the Union, defining the
position of its members. The letter was
addressed to the editor of the Advocate,
but he declined to publish it. The follow
ing is Mrs. Chapins letter which has oc-
casioned some public interest on account
of the advocates unfavorable comments
in rejecting it:
Ye fearful men fresh courage take,
| Those votes you so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and will break,
In blessings on your head.
Mr.. Editor: In your last paper you copy
from the Nashville Advocate an article
about "The Woman's Christian Temper
ance Uni0n." A society which the Edi-
Etor~ kindly admits isss'colnposed Of the
wisest, and best women in the land,
and is 4 power for good" But he "depre-
Gates some mistakes he thinks we are in
danger of making" Well now brother
Editors (both of you) tits nothing new for
our doings to be "deprecated." We have
been warned by the "wisest and best OF
men" against every single step we have
taken in the path that has made us the
''power for good" you are compelled to
acknowledge we have become.
We "are power" but have become so,
in spite of interpretations, and warnings"
and not because of any helpful words. We
"are power" because we have dared to
do the right, as God gave US the right to
see. we enlisted for work, not for fame
or profit but in defence of our homes and
dear ones. TO work for God and home
and native land, and God helping us, we
mean to do it; even though it lead US
on to the ballot box. 49,.
have never belonged to Woman's
Suffrage Society, but do not agree with
the Editor that "a ballot cast by q woman,
for the protection of her home, against the
rum batteries, which by the ballots of
men, are placed over against all that is
nearest and dearest to her, would "be Of
fensive to God" l do not believe it, but
I do believe, that the pitying Saviour,
knowing how long, and patiently women
have waited, and suffered and plead, in
vain to men for deliverance would look
down with loving sympathy, and say,
80 woman, be it unto thee according to
thy faith," and the saloon would 60.
The editor thinks woman's ballot would
be "disastrous to the country" If 1t had
not been for the self-denial of woman, we
would have had no country. The priests
said the expedition of Columbus would be
'offensive to God" but Isabella of Spain,
with woman's God-given instinct, thought
differently, and pledged the jewels Of the
castle to enable the great discoverer to
make the voyage. We women, after read
ing the report of the Clerk of the House
of Representatives at Washington, think
that we, Ignorant as we are supposed to
be) could by our ballot save the nation a
vast amount of money by keeping men at
home who required nation to furnish
each of them with 420 towels during
the session, also with perfumery by the
gallon, fans more than one at $50 apiece;
over 81 900 for opera glasses alone, also
bracelets, toilet powder, fur robes, en-
broidered shawl straps, tons of playing
cards, Sl25 each for stationery; and then
only think of Congressman. being sup
piled with mental food at their own re-
quest: "Little doings for little folk"
!Daily tricks of little chicks" "Baby
world" "Ring around Rosies," etc, Gd m
fnit,tn,. Not mentioning the thousands
spent to keep up their spirits, when they
20 to funerals. Could our ballots be any
more disastrous" than ballots that send
such unscrupulOus men into the hlgh
|
But it is urged that in order to vote,
we "would have to neglect our children"
What nonsense. 1t would not take US
over twenty minutes year to do our vo-
ting. The majority of women either have
no children, or grown children, and those
who have small children, could easily
send and get the neighbor, who stays with
them when she goes to pay her taxes to
come over again, for few minutes.
There will be no "primary meetings."
held in saloons, when woman comes into
this right. Oh, no her decisions will be
made in the sacred precincts Of her home,
and in the fear Of God whose word tells
US, that "when the wicked rule, the land
mOurneth."
Women ought to lie allowed to say by
their ballot whether the saloon keeper,
nineteen times out Of twenty IA foreign
cry shall be allowed to erect his rum bat
tery, over against their home, destroying
the value Of their property, increasing
their insurance rates, and rlsklng the SAFE
ty of the boys, for whom they went down
into the shadow of death that they might
have life. Home is woman's Kingdom,
and no right thinking man would refuse
to grant her the privilege OF defending 1t,
and saving her loved ones from the rum
|
Chivalry, does not mean gapy, meaning
less fattery, as some men seem to think.
But thoughtful and careful consideration
for those, who by mans laws are prosecu-
ted from helping, and protecting them
selves. I have seen ladies vote, SO am
writing, about what | know. | happen
ed once to be in State where the women
vote. NV hostess, was a lovely little
lady cultivated, refined, wealthy. 1 had
all the ignorant prejudice against woman's
ballot and thought it was really as we
have been educated to believe terrible,
disgraceful thing to 60 to the polls, where
rough men would be swearing, and where
l might possibly have to use pistol to
defend myself against a shillelah. I'm
agine my horror, when my little friend
came in and informing me that she was
going to vote, asked me to accompany her
to the polls. In her dainty fingers, she
held her ballot, with the protest mo"
conspicuously visible. l certainly might
60, were she did, so went.
When we reached the voting precinct,
she stepped from the carriage, men clear
ed the way for her respectfully. l have
been much more rudely jostled, and crowd
ed, when I went to pay my taxes. When
she returned to the carriage, she said with
much emotion II am so grateful for the
privilege OF doing something towards
getting the saloon out of the way, before
INV three little fatherless boys are old
enough to be enticed into them; for they
inherit the fearful appetite, and l am very
anxious"
DO YOU think that ballot, cast for that
purpose, by that mother whose heart had
been tor with anguish because of the
ruin Through alcohoD of once noble and
scholarly husband was an "otfence to
Cod" Nay, verify not the God l wor-
ship-Iam sure.
After the voting, we drove out into the